Short Description of Offence - False or misleading labelling of meat contrary to section 12 (a) of O. Reg. 266/09.

Date of Offence - March 20, 2018

Date of Conviction - November 1, 2018

Penalty Imposed - $15,000 plus a Victim Fine Surcharge of $3,750

Background -

On March 20, 2018, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Regulatory Compliance Unit conducted a grade labelling inspection at Norwich Packers Limited. After the inspection and following further investigation into the matter, Norwich Packers Limited pled guilty to false or misleading labelling of meat contrary to section 12 (a) of O.Reg. 266/09.

Ontario is a leader in food safety and meat inspection. The province's Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 and its regulations are part of Ontario's food safety system and contain high standards for the protection of consumers and the welfare of food animals.

Section 12 (a) of O. Reg. 266/09 under the Food Safety and Quality Act states that no person shall, on a package or sign, or on an invoice or manifest describing the whole or part of a carcass or a cut of meat for sale, or in an advertisement offering the whole or part of a carcass or a cut of meat for sale, make any statement that is untrue, deceptive, misleading or that is likely to deceive or mislead a person. Penalties for a corporation convicted of a provincial offence under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 are set out by subsection 46 (2) of the Act. A corporation convicted of an offence under the Act is liable to a fine of not more than $100,000 for a first conviction, or a fine of not more than $200,000 for each subsequent conviction (for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues to occur).